Update on Florida PEP Scholarship
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- May 8, 2024
Welcome! My name is Katie Lopez. I’m a homeschool mom who loves the Lord deeply.
My goal for the channel is to honor the Lord and help other homeschool families however Holy Spirit leads.
If you have questions or want more information about the topics we discuss, please feel free to reach me by email or the comment section.
MyGodWhoNeverFails@gmail.com
Today, I’m talking about the Personalized Education Program (PEP).
This scholarship is for Florida homeschoolers.
Here is the main website for more info on how to apply:
www.stepupfors...
In this video, I briefly go over how to obtain the list of what can and cannot be used with the scholarship funds, as well as a few other things.
Here is the link to the original PEP scholarship video for more detail:
• Step Up (PEP) Scholarship
Once you’ve been awarded, here is another video with what to do next:
• PEP Scholarship Awarde...
If you’d like to see additional homeschool videos and content, feel free to check out our family website:
Homeschooling For His Kingdom
www.homeschool...
May the Lord bless you on your homeschooling journey.
In Him,
Katie Lopez
MyGodWhoNeverFails@gmail.com
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Don't start purchasing things for reimbursement until July 1st.Their calendar year starts then. I was on PEP this year. Everything bought before July got denied. The program is great though. Reimbursements take a LONG time but they are simple. I prefer to buy through their online store since there's no out of pocket. Once you have funds in your account, you can buy for future use.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s very helpful 😊
Thank you for sharing! This is our first year and it’s pretty intimidating. We just got funded officially so I’m ready to start trying to purchase curriculum and such!
@@caitlinmenger8716 I think you mean you got awarded not funded. Awarded is being approved for funds. The money won't be in your account until sometime in August. You won't be reimbursed until well after the funds hit your account. It will be easier to shop through the online portal when money is in the account then waiting around for the reimbursements.
Valuable info! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! This was so helpful and encouraging ❤
We just applied this year and have been up dated to “awarded” so excited to be able to get kids into some music lessons and help setting up a more structured “school” area! Obviously thankful for the help with curriculum purchase! We use BJU Press DLO. We love it but it’s very pricey!
That’s wonderful, praise the Lord! 😊🎉
I had heard that they had something for Homeschool but wasn't sure what it was. Already applied, now waiting. Your video was great and informative, thanks for sharing and taking the time to do this!
You’re welcome! Glad the video helped & Lord willing you’ll be approved quickly 😊
FYI...the 24/25 purchasing guide is not out yet. Be cautious as the 23/24 guide you are viewing online could change.
Okay thank you, good to know.
Thank you for sharing your valuable research. It has been so helpful to my family. 🙏🏽
Thank you for the encouragement, and I’m so glad the information has helped your family!
Praise the Lord 🥰
Underneath the section titled "What Is Required?", in a blue banner "Helpful Documents" Download the Purchasing Guide
Hi, thanks for you info. What is required of you as far as reporting/testing etc? And how do you facilitate that?
Hello, great question. As far as I understand from the handbook (page 9-10) we need to 1) Declare our student’s grade level, 2) Submit a learning plan for the year for each of our children (students), 3) Have each child take an annual state-approved test, 4) Register as a PEP homeschool. So if you are registered now as a private affidavit homeschool, you’d have to change your status to being recognized with the PEP program with the State of Florida.
You can double check the details here:
go.stepupforstudents.org/hubfs/HANDBOOKS/Parent%20Handbooks/FTC-Parent-Handbook.pdf
The Florida Dept of Ed website has a list of approved standardized tests. My kids did the SAT10 on paper at a school. There are many that can be done right at home with paper or online.
Amén 🙏🏼
How do you do homeschool without private or umbrella?? Do you have to do the evaluation?? What if you até certified teacher?? Does that count as a professional growth development??What you have to bring for homeschool evaluation of your kids?? Is it mandatory??How you evaluate?? Where get the assessment??
Hi Emilia,
So the 1st step is to apply for whichever FL scholarship fits your family. There are several different ones.
If you are applying for the PEP scholarship, then you will enter your children’s grade levels for this coming year in the application.
The 2nd thing you will need to do is withdraw yourself from your current form of homeschool with the withdrawal letter on the PEP website. That will also register you with the PEP program.
The 3rd thing you will need to do is fill out the SLP (student learning plan) online through your dashboard on the PEP site. One SLP for each child.
The 4th thing you will need to do is provide standardized or assessments testing in the spring of 2025 for each of your kiddos receiving the scholarship funding.
As far as I know, once registered as a PEP family, there is no more requirement for a certified teacher or annual evaluations. The assessments testing takes the place of this as far as I know.
However, I still plan to meet with my certified teacher because I really appreciate her feedback.
I believe many local groups/ co-ops work with providing the assessments testing for homeschoolers. I just get mine online. Your FL county department of education representative should be able to provide you with a phone number or list of local certified teachers that can help provide the testing to your children in the spring.
Hope this helps!
I just got awarded for the funds. How do I use them? Do I have to buy something and then get reimbursed or can I use it to purchase? And where?
Hi Tisha, great question ☺️
You can either purchase from the Step Up online store once you’re funded, or you can purchase approved curriculum, supplies, lessons, etc… from other vendors and submit for reimbursements. Whatever works best for you and your family.
Here is a link to the current purchasing guide:
go.stepupforstudents.org/hubfs/GUIDES/FTC%20FES-EO%20Purchasing%20Guide%202024-25.pdf?_gl=1*8mwm6u*_gcl_au*Mjc3MDU1NDkuMTcyNDM3NjE4NQ..*_ga*MTQwMDk4ODA3LjE3MjQzNzYxODY.*_ga_V4KBYBT1HD*MTcyNTA0OTg2MC4zLjEuMTcyNTA0OTg2Ny41My4wLjA.
Do you have to register with one of the step up homeschooling umbrellas? Or can you free lance? Am getting mixed opinions on this.
Hi! Good question. From what the gal told me at Step Up, you have to terminate your current homeschool program (whether a charter, private affidavit, etc…) and then file as a PEP homeschool student/family with your district in FL.
The termination letter can be found on the Step Up For Students website.
From my understanding, we will still be able to select curriculum ourselves, etc… but we will simply be labeled as part of the PEP program to the Department of Education in Florida.
Your comment encouraged me to make another video with more detail, including how to find the termination/new registration letter. 😊 Hope it helps!
th-cam.com/video/cs5gydiSHNA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PGtVQMJ-YmlFHbiK
Hi I’m a little confused when you get approved do you have access to to the funds to purchase or pay for the things that qualify or is everything out of pocket and then get reimbursement.
Hello, so there are a couple options for using the scholarship funds:
1) You can choose what curriculum, products, lessons, etc… you want according to the purchasing guide - pay out of pocket, and then submit receipts for reimbursements.
Or
2) You can purchase from the Step Up My Scholarship Shop so you’re not out of pocket.
Here is the link to the scholarship shop:
www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/myscholarshop/?Thrive_PerformanceMax&Google_Thrive_PerformanceMax&hsa_acc=8378114378&hsa_cam=19631182293&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAoSMtSQud6Qh3yEBcFu-KvX7EBFvQ
Where does it say summer camps are approved? bc I was told they are not covered and I already paid for my daughters july art summer camp.
Hello, when I called the Step Up for Students phone line, the gal told me I could use the scholarship funding for summer camps. However, if you do not see summer camps on the list, I apologize. Maybe call in and double check. 877.735.7837
How long did it take to get approval ?
I submitted my applications but haven’t heard anything yet.
Hi Meghan, it seems to be taking about 3-4 weeks, but could be different from family to family depending on what information was needed and submitted.
They should communicate by email either way. Praying you are approved! 😊
When it says awarded is that means my kids were approved?
Yes, from speaking with one of their representatives, awarded means your kids are approved. I believe the first quarter funding will drop between August 15th - September 15th. And you’ll want to wait to begin making purchases for reimbursement until July 1, 2024.